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While Liverpool Reserves were the first team to play in the stadium after the repairs - against Huddersfield in the Central League on September 2 1987 with the Kop closed - it wasn't until September 12 when the Reds ran out at Anfield for real against Oxford.

By then, a new-look team spearheaded by John Aldridge, John Barnes and Peter Beardsley was well established as a brilliant attacking force.

A Frank Harris cartoon in the Liverpool Echo of Peter Beardsley and John Barnes

Goals from Aldridge and Steve Nicol had seen off Arsenal before Coventry City had been thrashed 4-1, one of 12 games where the Reds scored four goals or more in 1987-88.

An Aldridge penalty earned a point at West Ham, giving Liverpool seven points when they returned to Anfield to face Oxford.

Before the game, Kenny Dalglish said: "We are looking forward to it very much. It's been frustrating for the lads who have been playing well, but have not been able to perform in front of their own supporters.

"I know that Peter and John are eager to show what they can do, but it is the same for everyone after such a long delay."

More than 42,000 people crammed into the stadium, including a raucous Kop, for the 3pm kick off, eager to see their new heroes for themselves.

The game was attack against defence almost from the start with Nicol, Steve McMahon and Ronnie Whelan all going close.

John Aldridge celebrates the first goal for Liverpool against Oxford

After 13 minutes, Barnes showed his class with a break down the left wing before his cross was slid into the goal by John Aldridge.

In the Echo, Ian Hargraves said: "Beardsley, Whelan and Barnes swept the ball from one end of the pitch to the other and John Aldridge supplied the finishing touch."

Barnes continued to shine and scored a fine second goal when a free kick was touched to him by Beardsley.

Hargraves added: "The stage was set for a display of Liverpool's many talents. Sadly it did not materialise. Oxford showed greater organisation and commitment in the second half and with Liverpool seemingly happy to weave pretty patterns and take things easy, the game drifted away."

John Barnes scores Liverpool's second goal

Ric George watched the game from the Kop, and said: "Tentatively I tip-toed across the centre of the terracing. If the concrete could survive my bulk, then there was no way it would crumble under the weight of 20,000.

"John Barnes was an instant hit - a wave to the Kop received 20,000 in return plus a chorus of 'Johnny Barnes, Johnny Barnes, Johnny Barnes!'

"The crowd took to the England winger, who conjoured up a fine goal for Aldridge. "Did you see the way Barnesy beat his man?" enthused a young fan.

"Beardsley was less impressive but was encouraged rather than slated. 'Unlucky Quozzy Lad' or 'Helluva ball Quoz'."

After the game, Ric spoke to Kopite Kevin McDermott, and the 26-year-old joined the chorus praising Barnes.

"He adds so much sparkle to the team and he went round defenders with ease.

"We want to go forward more. Just look at who was on the bench: Paul Walsh who's a striker and John Wark, an attacking midfielder.

"They were given a big build up beforehand but I don't think they lived up to expectations, but it's still hard to see anyone stopping them.

"Mind you, I said that last year!"

Time Line

Anfield stadium timeline since 2000

June 22 2000 - Stanley Park plans announced

LFC announce their intention to build a 60,000-seat stadium on part of the iconic Stanley Park that divides Anfield and Goodison Park.

Initial plans drawn up by the club's architects cost the development at £150m, with the potential to increase the capacity to 70,000.

March 7 2001 - off to Speke?

LFC reveal they are considering abandoning the Stanley Park plans for a 75,000-seat ground in Speke, over fears of a long planning inquiry into the Stanley Park development.

Fans immediately voice their opposition to such a move

May 17 2002 - back to Stanley Park

The move to Stanley Park is back on as the ECHO reveals plans and images of the Reds' proposed new £70m 55,000-seater stadium

March 8 2005 - ground share row

The North West Development Agency (NWDA) says it still wants Liverpool and Everton to share a ground and will not be releasing the £11m earmarked in its funds for north Liverpool until that scheme is back on the agenda.

February 7 2007 - a spade in the ground

American businessmen Tom Hicks & George Gillett complete their purchase of Liverpool Football Club from David Moores and pledge £210m to build the 'new' Anfield, promising to start building work within sixty days.

March 12 2007 - fences go up

Parts of Stanley Park are fenced off for preparatory work on the 60,000 seater stadium

July 25 2007 - £300m Anfield plans revealed

LFC submit revised plans for the Stanley Park stadium, drawn up by Dallas-based architects HKS, for a £300m development with an initial capacity of 60,000, potentially rising to 80,000.

The cost would rocket to at least £400m by October.

December 18 2007 - stadium 'too expensive'

Hicks and Gillett reject the plans they unveiled five months before - they now pledge to choose between a scaled-down plan by Dallas-architects HKS and another from Manchester firm AFL, who designed the initial stadium plans that Hicks rejected as 'obsolete' when he took over

January-May 2008 - more new plans

New, more cost effective plans are revealed and approved by the council. However fans are wary, with John Mackin of Reclaim The Kop saying, "We have seen pretty pictures of stadium designs before and we're still waiting for a single spade to go into the ground at Stanley Park, something Hicks and Gillett promised would happen within 60 days of takeover.

"It'll take a lot more than a new picture and a major PR offensive for us to be won over."

August 29 2008 - more delays

Hicks and Gillett announce a further delay in the beginning of construction of the club's new stadium caused by 'global market conditions' but insist their commitment to build a new ground remains undiminished.

Hicks repeats that commitment in March 2009.

April 16 2010 - Reds up for sale

Hicks & Gillett officially put LFC on the market as Martin Broughton is brought in as chairman to oversee the sale of the club - a club statement confirms they will "continue to progress the well-advanced plans for a new, larger, and state-of-the-art stadium which will form an exciting part of the club"s future development."

October 15 2010 - Hicks and Gillett High Court drama

After a dramatic few days in London, Reds chairman Martin Broughton and the LFC board win a crucial High Court verdict determining their right to sell the club.

New owner John Henry said: "I am proud and humble but we have a lot of work to do."

October 15 2012 - Reds announce Anfield plans

Almost two years to the day since Fenway Sports Group took over the club, LFC formally announce their intention to remain at their iconic home since 1892.

Although no designs or timescale are forthcoming, the stadium redevelopment is planned alongside a huge Liverpool City Council-led regeneration project for the Anfield area, funded by a £25m government grant and private investment from housing association Your Housing.

The plans involve clearing some streets close to the Reds’ ground – Lothair Road, Alroy Road and Sybil Road – and renovating scores of other properties in wider areas of the Anfield district.

The plan covers proposed developments such as new housing, business and retail premises, a hotel, new public space, and a range of new community facilities in the area, including in Stanley Park, as well the stadium redevelopment

December 4 2014 - Main Stand work begins

Chief Executive Ian Ayre admits the £100m plus project will turn Anfield into a building site but says the club will do all it can to minimise problems and issues for fans, residents and businesses in the area, with the new stand, to effectively be built behind and then over the existing stand, will be open in time for the 2016/17 season

January 6 2015 - Hillsborough eternal flame relocated

As part of the service, a lantern was lit from the Hillsborough eternal flame which was transferred to Liverpool Cathedral by the Vice Dean, Myles Davies, while the work is completed. It will sit alongside the Hillsborough book of remembrance at the cathedral on Hope Street. A temporary memorial was also put in place on the Centenary Stand.

July 1 2016 - Anfield kittens rescued

Rescue Me Animal Sanctuary have taken in the brother and sister, which have been named Stevie and Sturridge, but staff fear their mum may have been crushed amid the building work. They went on to be fostered by the Holden family.